Full USA Greco-Roman Roster for This Weekend’s Russian Excursion

As noted earlier this week, a group of US Greco-Roman Seniors have been in St. Petersburg, Russia participating in a training camp ahead of a tournament this coming weekend. That event, the 2017 Jouri Lavrikov Memorial, actually begins on Friday and observes a two-day format. The four weight classes slated to be contested on Friday will see their respective finals and bronze medal matches wrap up on Saturday, with the second collection of weight classes having their finals and medal rounds commencing on Sunday. According to the program sheet, there are same-day weigh-ins, but only on the first day of action for each weight class.

A hefty Northern Michigan presence will be in effect, but the American squad is also comprised of several Marines and other Seniors who bring some name recognition to the table, including one athlete who is returning to competition following a significant layoff.

Fresh off 1-1 performances at the U23 World Championships last week are Dalton Roberts (59 kg, NYAC/OTS) and G’Angelo Hancock (130 kg, Sunkist). Hancock, 20, has been overseas for awhile already, having been a part of the Belarus trip that included a dual meet several days before the U23’s kicked off in Poland. The Lavrikov Memorial isn’t even the end of the tour for Hancock, as he is also on the roster for the Arvo Haavisto Cup in Finland on December 9th.

Two-time Junior World Team member Randon Miranda (59 kg, NYAC/OTS) picked up a pair of gold medals last month in Sweden and will be looking to add some more international hardware to his growing trophy case. It has been some kind of 2017 for the native Californian. Along with securing another appearance at the Junior Worlds, Miranda also added a second straight gold from the Junior Greco World Duals in May. Right with him is the Marines very own ball of intensity, Ray Bunker (71 kg). Although still raw overall in terms of Greco “refinement”, Bunker established himself as a legit Senior competitor this year, highlighted in part by an impressive showing at the University Nationals where he earned his first domestic title.

Corey Hope (75 kg, NYAC) is once again an active competitor. In 2016, the NMU alum won the Dave Schultz Memorial with a victory over WCAP technician Dillon Cowan before barely missing out on a National Team spot at the Olympic Trials. Injuries then became part of the story, resulting in a prolonged layoff. But he’s back now, and currently knocking the rust off in St. Petersburg. And like Hancock, Hope will also be lacing them up for the Haavisto the very next week.

Two-time Senior World Team member Patrick Martinez (85 kg, NYAC) is another US wrestler who has become used to life in and around the Eastern Bloc. The 27-year-old was one of three Americans to earn a win in the dual meet versus Belarus, and then after that, he went along for the ride to Poland so he could continue to harden up for the upcoming season. Daniel Miller (98 kg, Marines) earned two bronze medals last season on foreign soil and has a knack for competing well at tournaments just like this one. His goal is to translate that kind of success domestically, but until he gets a shot to do that, the next two weekends will have to suffice. Most recently, Miller placed seventh at the CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in September.

Currently, there is no information available pertaining to a livestream of the event. If/when that changes, we will update accordingly.